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What’s Inside...
Public Affairs Officer
Howard Samuelson Assistant Public Affairs Officer
Domestic Abuse Advocate Speaks Up See page 4
Know the Warning Signs of Sucide See page 6
& Leading Petty Officer MC1(SW/AW) Barry Riley
Editor MC3 Ryan G. Greene Skywriter Staff MC2 Kegan E. Kay MC3 Ryan G. Greene Host Nation Relations Masako Takakura Sumie Maruyama Ikumi Tanaka Webmaster Noriko Yamazaki Contributors
Upcoming Events Around NAF Atsugi
MWR Marketing Fleet and Family Support Center Commissary Public Affairs Navy Exchange Public Affairs NAF Atsugi Tenant Commands
We want to spotlight people who are doing See page 9 good things for NAF Atsugi. If you have someone you’d like to recommend or to submit a photo, please e-mail:at-pao@fe.navy.mil
Let's Learn Nihongo The NAFAtsugi Spolight Happy Birthday! O tanjobi omedeto! When is your birthday? Anata no o tanjobi wa itsu desu ka? How old are you now? Ima nansai desu ka? I’m 25 years old. Watashi wa nijugo sai desu. What do you want for your birthday? O tanjobi presento wa nani ga ii desu ka.
ON THE COVER
Click the picture above to check out MC2 Kay is ready with part three of her barracks cooking, demonstrating how to make a snack called “Ants on a Log” using either celery or apples.
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A young girl from Naval Air Facility Atsugi’s Child Development Center (CDC) picks peanuts during a field trip to the Suzuki Farm in Ayase City. More than 70 children from the CDC visited the farm as part of an annual peanutpicking. Photo by Ikumi Tanaka.
Dual Carrier Strike Groups Conduct Simulated Strike During Valiant Shield “The joint environment provides a lot of additional capability,” said Montgomery. “We can conduct organic air wing strikes and do them very efficiently, but we do them more effectively and efficiently when we have our joint partners. They can provide aerial refueling, data location, air-to-air support and escort in and out of the strike mission.” Participating forces will exercise a wide range of capabilities and demonstrate the inherent flexibility of joint forces. These capabilities will encompass airdefense exercises and complex warfighting. “WASEXs allow us to practice targeting and attacking simulated threat task groups and opposing sea targets,” said Cmdr. Ernest Winston, commanding officer of the Shadowhawks of Electronic Attack Squadron 141. “As adversaries become more advanced, it requires us to adjust our tactics accordingly. This exercise gives us a chance to incorporate new tactics and perfect old ones.” Valiant Shield is the largest joint unilateral military exercise in the Pacific this year, with a focus on intergration of joint training among U.S. forces. “Integrating Air Force assets with Navy and Marine Corps helps to strengthen our existing tactics, techniques and procedures,” said U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Ernie Drake, squadron weapons systems officer of Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533. “Using these assets allow us to accomplish our objectives through various mission sets, namely air interdiction of maritime targets, incorporating close escort and providing pre-strike sweep elements.” This training enables real world proficiency in sustaining joint forces through detecting, locating, tracking and engaging units at sea, in the air, on land and in cyberspace in response to a range of mission areas. “War-at-Sea isn’t something the Air Force gets to practice regularly, so this is the first time some of our pilots have seen this concept in action,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. “Barley” Baldwin, Valiant Shield deputy air boss, from the 302nd Fighter Squadron. For more on this story, and Commander, Task Force 70, click here.
Photo by MCSN Bryan Mai
Story by MC3 Chris Cavagnaro Commander, Task Force 70 Public Affairs
The George Washington and Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Groups, as well as land-based aircraft from Marine Corps Air Group 12 and Air Force 36th Operations Group completed dynamic war-at-sea exercises (WASEX) as part of Valiant Shield Sept. 16 and 18. These WASEXs utilized joint assets to simulate long range strikes against hostile surface warships in order to improve joint interoperability, to assess dual carrier strike group and joint operations and to conduct maritime threat neutralization. “WASEXs are conducted by naval assets around the world and in their most basic form they are the execution of, in this case, an air-launched attack against simulated adversary surface ships played by U.S. surface combatants,” said Rear. Adm. Mark Montgomery, commander, Battle Force 7th Fleet. “Much like in the 6th Fleet, 5th Fleet or 3rd Fleet, out here in 7th Fleet we conduct routine WASEXs. The difference in this one is that we are being assessed in our ability to efficiently and accurately execute a warat-sea strike in a given timeframe.” Participants in Valiant Shield include the Nimitz-class aircraft carriers USS George Washington (CVN 73) and its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, and USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and its embarked air wing, CVW-17, cruisers and destroyers, Military Sealift Command ships, more than 100 additional Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps aircraft, and an estimated 18,000 Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps personnel. 3
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Domestic Violence A
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Graphic Illustration by MC2 Kegan E. Kay
Many people choose to do nothing for fear of actual or potential violence. A positive approach to being supportive and getting involved is to know that bystander intervention is for everyone. The more we recognize domestic violence as a problem, the easier it is to create a safer community. Active bystanders understand safe interventions and take the initiative to help. Overcome the apprehension of being labeled “nosey” or interfering with something that is “not your business.” The Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) is dedicated to the prevention, education, prompt reporting, intervention and treatment of spouse and child abuse. The program provides a variety of services to sailors and families to enhance their relationship skills and improve their quality of life. If you are the victim of domestic violence, please call FFSC Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate at 080-54710970. An advocate is available to you 24/7. FFSC offers classes on life skills-based education, individual/couples/family counseling, and much more. For more information on FFSC and the classes offered, please call DSN 264-3372.
omestic abuse is never acceptable. Under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, domestic abuse includes criminal behavior such as physical assault and stalking, as well as noncriminal behavior including emotional, psychological, and financial abuse. It crosses all socioeconomic, racial and ethnic backgrounds and is in every community. In support of preventing domestic violence, what would you do in response to witnessing a physical assault? The concept of bystander intervention is to help prevent and end domestic abuse. In the case of domestic violence, a “bystander” is a shipmate, family member, friend, neighbor, coworker, or anyone who has witnessed an incident of abuse. If you suspect someone has experienced domestic violence, bystander education involves teaching people how to take responsibility in situations that involve violence and/or potentially harmful behaviors. The behavior of the bystander can be important in changing accepted norms and behaviors of the perpetrator and victim. The bystander’s role could be to intervene appropriately, speak out to the perpetrator about hurtful behaviors, or to support the victim. 4
Awareness Month
ories by Eldotha W. Fields NAFA Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate
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t’s not physical, so it’s not abuse right? Some possible responses to this question are withholding money, humiliating you in front of the children, forced sex, and accusations about having affairs. They all are examples of abusive behavior that victims have experienced. Abuse can be emotional, financial, physical, sexual, spiritual, and verbal. Black eyes, bruises, broken bones are all good ways to tell if a person may be being physically abuse. The scars they leave will often fade away, but it’s the psychological scarring that does not. Verbal and emotional abuse can be more damaging than physical abuse. The victim feels defenseless while the abuser feels more powerful. In a relationship emotional abuse may present itself early on and can include things such as behaving in a very possessive or jealous manner and keeping close tabs on a spouse or partner’s whereabouts at all times. Emotional abuse also includes invalidating the spouse or partner’s feelings and refusing to support the spouse or partner emotionally
during a difficult time. Examples of economic abuse are controlling a spouse or partner by not allowing them to have a job or complete education, not allowing access to funds or, in some cases, putting all bills only in the name of the abuser. Isolation tactics include getting angry when the victim spends time with friends, always wanting to be alone with the victim, accompanying the victim everywhere, showing up unexpectedly, and becoming jealous when the victim interacts with others. These behaviors are not acceptable. It is not a healthy way to relate and will eventually cause harm. Some victims have a spiritual belief that no matter what happens they have to maintain their relationship with the abuser and act in accordance with a certain culture. The victim may be willing to sacrifice his/her safety in order to obey his/her spouse and allow the maltreatment to continue. Religious faith does not stop a batterer from abusing.her.Verbal abuse is using insulting language to say things 5
Graphic Illustration by MC1 Barry A. Riley
that will knowingly have a negative impact on the victim’s self-esteem. This includes name calling, ridiculing, shouting or yelling, or swearing. Examples of verbal abuse are, “I don’t know why I put up with you,” and “No one else will ever want you besides me.” All people go through crisis at some point in time. A healthy relationship gives each person an opportunity to have control of his or her own life. If your spouse or partner acts in any of these ways and forces you to make unhealthy lifestyle choices or changes, it could be a warning sign to an abusive relationship. The Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) is dedicated to the prevention, education, prompt reporting, intervention and treatment of spouse and child abuse. The program provides a variety of services to sailors and families to enhance their relationship skills and improve their quality of life. If you are the victim of domestic violence, please call FFSC Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate at 080-5471-0970. An advocate is available to you 24/7.
NAFA Offers Training to Battle Against Suicide
Photo by MC3 Ryan G. Greene
Story by MC2 Kegan E. Kay
The class is related to be similar in learning CPR skills in that the training gives the students the skills needed to be able to act should the need arise. Another LivingWorks program that NAF Atsugi FFSC holds monthly is the safeTALK. “SafeTALK is a three hour training that teaches people how to be suicide alert,” said Stewart. “The training teaches people how to follow their senses and ask the question ‘Are you planning to kill yourself?’ Then based on the response, assist the person in need to someone who has ASIST training, a chaplain or medical.” Even without these trainings community members can take the Navy’s program of A-C-T (Ask, Care, Treat) to help those around them. A-C-T teaches bystander intervention in giving everyone the power the know how to ask the right questions, be a listening ear and getting the person to seek support through counseling. More information regarding ASIST or safeTALK can found on the LivingWorks website here. For more tools and tips from the Navy please visit here or here. The next ASIST class will be held on Oct. 23 and 34 at the Chapel Fellowship Hall. To sign up please call the Chaplains Office at 264-3202. “If we can save even one life through these trainings, then it is worth it,” said Steward.
NAF Atsugi Public Affairs Office
September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and though the month is winding down, the Navy continues to stress the importance of suicide awareness. Between general military trainings, posters and Armed Forces Network public service announcements the information about suicide and ways to help prevent it are widely spread throughout the year. Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi has taken it a step further and offers classes to help people become more confident in intervening for friends, family or coworkers who may be in need of help. “NAF Atsugi has command suicide prevention coordinators and at Fleet and Family Service Center (FFSC), we have Applied Suicide Intervention Support trainers; three here at FFSC, one in the Chaplains Office and one at Personnel Support Detachment,” said Sexual Assault Response Coordinator Glen Steward. LivingWorks program, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), is an intense two day course held quarterly to teach service members and civilians how to intervene when they are alerted to possible red flag scenarios. According to the LivingWorks website, “Participants learn and practice skills in identifying and responding to people at immediate risk of suicide.” 6
NAF Atsugi CDC Certifies Safety for Children
Photo by Ikumi Tanaka
Story by MC3 Ryan G. Greene NAF Atsugi Public Affairs Office
Members of the Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi Child Development Center (CDC) recently completed the Child Developmental Associate Credential (CDA), a nationally recognized certification, for helping both children and parents. The accreditation process can take up to two years, but many of the employees at the CDC were able to complete it in less than one. “It has helped me to remember and use our 13 modules for teaching,” said Child Youth Program Assistant Christi Bueno. “It’s so important that we’re here to help kids develop and grow and help lead their parents to the tools and resources they’re going to need to be the best they can.” The CDA, requires that participants create a binder of various resources and parenting tools that they can then use to help parents as well as being able to use those tools and skills in the classrooms. According to the Council for Professional Recognition, a group working to evaluate and standardize childcare accreditation programs, The CDA is based on a core set of
competency standards, which guide early care professionals as they work toward becoming qualified teachers of young children. The Council works to ensure that the nationally-transferable CDA is a credible and valid credential, recognized by the profession as a vital part of professional development. CDAs have knowledge of how to put the CDA Competency Standards into practice and understanding of why those standards help children move with success from one developmental stage to another. Put simply, CDAs know how to nurture the emotional, physical, intellectual, and social development of children. “I have so enjoyed working with these kids,” said Party Preschool Lead Hazel Helen. “This is my passion, I started working at NSF [Naval Support Facility] Kamiseya back in 2004, and I’ve never looked back. Getting to complete this certification has only helped me to be a better and stronger worker here at the CDC.” The process, though only taking many of the employees a year, is extremely time intensive, requiring many of them to work late nights and weekends to complete their assignments, added Program Assistant Terrence Nicholson. 7
“I’ve wanted to do this course since I got here in 2006,” said Nicholson. “We had to wait to get an instructor who was able to get to [NAF] Atsugi. It was crazy to see just how many of the staff here wanted to sign up for the class.” When the course was initially made available to the CDC staff, they had nine participants ranging from employees with one to ten years’ experience. “In 2012 many of us had it done, I was actually still working on it,” said Child Youth Program Assistant Kourtni Billena. “But in 2013 they revamped the program and it took almost a year to redo many of the most basic qualifications; and I’m glad we did, because I was able to relearn so much that’s helped me to be so much better at this job.” “At the end of the day, we’ve all been doing this for a long time, but we need the kids and parents alike to trust us to be successful,” said Helen. “Getting to do this job and having the opportunity to work with so many kids is the best gift I could have ever received and having the chance to help them succeed fills me with such a sense of joy.”
Fri., Sep. 26: ICR: 8:30 a.m. - Noon (216) Mon., Sep. 29: AOB: 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. (129) Tues., Sep. 30: Early Pregnancy Class: 2 - 4:30 p.m. (Conf. Room) Wed., Oct. 1: NPS Playgroup: 9:30 - 11 a.m. (220) Thurs., Oct. 2: Anger Management (3/5): 1:30 - 3 p.m. (Conf. Room) Conv. Japanese Class: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. (216) Fri., Oct. 3: ICR: 8:30 a.m. - Noon (129) Mon., Oct. 6: AOB: 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. (216) Tues., Oct. 7: ICR: 8 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. (216) TAP/GPS Workshop: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. (216) NPS Playgroup: 9:30 - 11 a.m. (220) Wed., Oct. 8: ICR: 8 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. (129) TAP/GPS Workshop: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. (216) NPS Playgroup: 9:30 - 11 a.m. (220) Thurs., Oct. 9: Anger Management (4/5): 1:30 - 3 p.m. (Conf. Room) Spouse Orientation: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. (Navy Lodge) Washi Craft Class: 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Navy Federal Celebrates September Specials Navy Federal has September Celebration Specials. Open a 5% Celebration Certificate for 12-months with a maximum balance of $5000. Get 15,000 points for spending $1,500 during the first 90 days of opening your Go Rewards card. Get $300 & a lower rate when you refinance your auto loan with Navy Federal from another lender. Restrictions may apply. Please see a representative at the Atsugi Branch for more details.
Rear Adm. Alexander Visits NAF Atsugi
Commander, Task Force (CTF) 70 Rear Adm. John D. Alexander joins Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi Commanding Officer Capt. John Bushey during a briefing in the NAF Atsugi Headquarters conferance room. Alexander assumed responsiblity for CTF 70 earlier this month in a Change of Command Ceremony. Photos by MC1 Barry A. Riley. 8
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Liberty Center Hours: Sunday & Thursday: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. Friday - Saturday: 11 a.m. - Midnight
Fall Sporting Events
Flag Football sign ups are now open, begining Oct. 27 - Dec. 20 for ages 3 - 15. If interested in signing up call 264 - 3826. Moonlight Madness softball rosters are due: Oct. 10 with a team meeting on the 14th and the event being held on the 17-18th. Captain’s Cup 10K Run is taking sign ups at Ranger Gym. The run will take place on Oct. 10. For more information on the race or how to sign up call 264-9514.
Halloween Events
Sat., Oct. 25 come out for the Trick or Treat 5K starting at 9 a.m. This family fun run/walk will feature awards for best costume, so dress to impress in your finest Halloween attire! The Teen Center will be decortating pumpkins durign the last week of Oct. Come in on Halloween, the bowling alley 11 a.m. - midnight and get reduced games.
Ranger & Halsey Gym Hours: Sunday & Saturday: 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday - Friday: 5 a.m. - 9 p.m.
ITT Photo Contest
If you’ve been on an MWR trip while stationed here at NAF Atsugi, then we’re looking for your photo! Call MWR at 264 - 3770 to submit your photo and enter to win a $25 tours gift certificate!
Bill Bellamy
Comedian Bill Bellamy, who has appeared on Comedy Central, MTV and serval movies, will be coming to Atsugi on Sept. 29. The show will be held at Cinema 77 starting at 7 p.m. and will be adults only.
Parents’ Day & Night Out
The CDC will be open additional hours in September as part of its “Give Parents a Break” program. For the first time, it will be offering childcare during daytime hours on a Saturday. Cost is $4 per hour per child. Children must be 12 years or younger. Stop by Central Registration or call 264-3588 to sign up. Evening childcare will be available on Sat., Sept. 20. Cost is $4 per hour per child. Children must be 12 years or younger. Stop by Central Registration or call 264-3588 to sign up.
Late Night Liberty Movie Madness Outdoor Pool Closure
E1-E4 Sailors get a free movie ticket and mini snack combo for The outdoor pool will continue operating the 10 p.m. show every Friday and Saturday. Sign up at the Corner from Noon till 7 p.m. until Sept. 28. Pocket Cash Cage or call 264-4750 with questions. The Indoor pool will open on Sept. 29. For more information on the closure, call MWR at 264-9514 or stop by Ranger Gym. This 12-week program equips kids ages 7-16 with the physical training and goal-setting mentality needed to accomplish their running goals and push themselves in ways they never knew possible. The group meets twice a week to help kids train to be able Come to Skymasters Lounge on Tuesday to participate in the Trick or Treat 5K and Turkey Trot 5K runs. Call evenings to enjoy Huddle Menu specials, draft beer and Monday Night Football 6 - 9 p.m.! 264-3826 for more info.
Kids Go Running Club
Replay Tuesdays
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e h t t a e f a S d o o y r F a e s B s i m m o C Story by Kevin L. Robinson DeCA Public Affairs
Food safety is a group hug, when you consider everyone who has a role in protecting consumers from foodborne illnesses. For the Defense Commissary Agency, that process begins where the food originates and continues all the way to the store shelf. However, during September, National Food Safety Education Month, DeCA is reminding its patrons that they also play a significant role to “Be Food Safe” at home. “From the store to their kitchen table, our patrons should ‘Be Food Safe’ against potential harmful bacteria,” said Army Col. Michael A. Buley, DeCA’s director of public health and safety. Every day a network of military and civilian food safety specialists are engaged in a multitiered inspection process designed to safeguard commissary products from any potential security and sanitation problems. That entire process can be undone if commissary patrons don’t pay attention to the basic principles of “Be Food Safe,” said Richard Stith, DeCA’s lead consumer safety officer. “Food safety isn’t just about cooking temperatures,” Stith said. “It’s the entire process from ‘Farm to Fork,’ which includes how you as a consumer treat your food once purchased until it’s served at the table. “If you have several stops to make
while you’re out shopping – like the exchange, the gas station and the medical clinic – do that before you hit the commissary to decrease the risks of temperature abusing your food, which increases the probability of dangerous microbial growth that can turn into a foodborne illness,” he added. “Once you purchase your perishable items, remember to keep cold items cold and hot foods hot.” The “Be Food Safe” message of clean, separate, cook and chill is the foundation of a patron’s food safety defense at home, Stith said. The Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Department of AgricultureFood Safety Inspection Service recommend the following safe handling techniques: Clean: Wash hands with warm soapy water for 20 seconds before and after handling raw meat, poultry or seafood. Wash utensils, cutting boards, dishes and countertops with hot soapy water after preparing each food item and before you go on to prepare the next item. Food contact surfaces may be sanitized with a freshly made solution of 1 tablespoon of unscented, liquid chlorine bleach in 1 gallon of water. Separate: Separate raw meat, poultry, and seafood from other foods in your grocery shopping cart and in your refrigerator. If possible, use one cutting board for fresh produce and a separate one 11
for raw meat, poultry and seafood. Never place cooked food on a plate that previously held raw meat, poultry or seafood. Cook: Cook poultry to a safe minimum internal temperature of 165°F as measured with a food thermometer. Chill: hill food promptly and properly. Refrigerate or freeze perishables, prepared foods and leftovers within two hours (or one hour if temperatures are above 90°F). “Prevention of foodborne illnesses never stops,” Buley said. “It’s a collective effort from start to finish. Our patrons have a crucial role in safeguarding their health once they leave the commissary and take their groceries home.”
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